Eyes are a highly sensitive external organ of the body. Therefore, any cosmetic surgery involving the eyes should only be performed by a fully trained and experienced surgeon. At the time of pre-op consultation, the surgeon will discuss all aspects of eyelid surgery, including its estimated costs.
The patient should feel free to ask questions about the costs as well as the possibility of insurance coverage and financing. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom provides eyelid surgery and various other cosmetic and reconstructive procedures to patients in Chicago, IL, and surrounding areas.
Factors Affecting the Cost
The cost of blepharoplasty can vary due to several factors that may impact the overall cost of procedure.
Geographical Factors
Practices located in main metropolitan areas or prime urban centers often have to bear higher real estate costs and other overheads. In comparison, a practice located in a small town in an interior location is likely to have lower costs. This can reflect in the prices of various services and procedures such as eyelid plastic surgery at a particular practice.
Surgeon’s Fee
The fee charged by the surgeon for blepharoplasty procedure will form a significant component of the overall cost of the procedure. The fee of the surgeon will typically vary according to their skills, experience and recognition in the field of plastic surgery.
Board certified plastic surgeons prefer to invest in high quality standards and best medical practices, adopt cutting edge surgical techniques, pursue continuing education, and follow the latest safety protocols. Patients should consider the costs in the context of the quality of services and personalized care they may receive at a particular practice.
Surgical Facility and Anesthesia Costs
Eyelid surgery may sometimes be performed using general anesthesia, particularly when both lower and upper eyelid surgery are involved, or an additional procedure such as brow lift or facelift is performed together. This will involve the fee of an anesthesiologist or a registered nurse anesthetist. Their fee can vary according to their qualifications and experience.
Blepharoplasty procedure may be performed at a hospital, an accredited surgery center, or a private surgical suite. The potential costs and benefits in each case will vary, and the patient should make a choice in consultation with the surgeon.
Other Expenses
Other costs related to eyelid surgery may include the costs of medical tests, prescription drugs and post-operative visits to the surgeon’s office. All these minor costs may add up to a substantial amount together, and should be considered when making a cost estimate.
Extent of Surgery
Some patients may only require lower or upper eyelid surgery, while some others may need both. In a few cases, a brow lift may be performed along with eyelid lift to create more uniform and natural looking results. The costs will vary in each case, depending on the extent of surgery performed.
Insurance
If the surgeon performs this surgery for medical reasons, the cost may be covered under the patient’s health plan. In other cases, patients may explore third party financing options. Experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Bloom receives patients from Chicago, IL, and nearby areas for blepharoplasty.